Research on the consequences of a changing climate. Covers food and water disparities, sea-level costs, forest resilience, and shifting ecosystems.
Scat detection dogs helped biology PhD student Alex Filazzola discover the importance of shrubs in preserving lizard populations in the face of climate change. Shrubs proved instrumental in providing critical micro-environments, such as shady places to regulate body temperature and refuge from predators.
Researchers at McGill University suggest that a link between global climate change and dramatic changes in ocean circulation can explain the formation of Antarctica's ice sheets. This new theory highlights the complexity of climate change and the impact of ocean circulation patterns on global temperatures.
A new study published in Nature forecasts disruption to alpine ecosystem health due to climate change. Rising temperatures are expected to decouple key nutrient cycles in mountain soils and plants, threatening the function of mountaintop ecosystems and their ability to provide clean water.
A recent study on alpine snow voles found a counterintuitive genetic change towards smaller body mass despite expected positive selection for increased fitness. The research suggests that selection for shorter development times leads to genetic change.
A new study suggests that science curiosity can reduce polarization on contentious issues like climate change and fracking. Curious individuals are more willing to engage with surprising information that challenges their political predispositions, leading to a decrease in partisan divide.
A group of UK and US respiratory doctors argue that President Trump should follow Margaret Thatcher's lead on ozone layer protection to reduce the impact of climate change. They suggest a series of policy actions, including investing in clean energy and green transport, to protect public health and prosperity.
Researchers investigate Tambora's effects on coastal fish and commercial fisheries in the Gulf of Maine, revealing parallels with current climate change phenomena. The study suggests that past extreme events can inform resilience strategies and that complex solutions require a multi-faceted approach.
Three-spine stickleback fish in Alaska's Bristol Bay region are altering their breeding patterns in response to climate change, spawning earlier and more often. This shift could have wider ecological effects on the ecosystem, particularly for species like juvenile sockeye salmon.
Researchers tested tropical rainforest fly Drosophila birchii's response to climate change by transplanting flies along mountain gradients. They found similar responses across families, indicating little potential for thermal tolerances to evolve.
A study by University of Sheffield researchers found that even mild heat damage can reduce insects' ability to reproduce as adults. Insect populations in high-latitude countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change, which could lead to population decline.
A new study by the University of Exeter found that climate change improves breeding chances for migratory geese in the Arctic, but increases the death rate among mothers. This is because warmer conditions require extra energy for laying eggs and make them more vulnerable to predators.
A group of climate scientists analyzed the scientific work and expert judgments behind the IPCC's 2°C warming scenario, revealing that updated findings support the original conclusions. The researchers aimed to increase transparency in climate projections, enabling policymakers to make informed decisions.
A University of Illinois study found that 19 out of 20 tropical bird species in Panama may experience significantly fewer birds if conditions become drier, due to longer dry seasons and more intense seasonal droughts. The scaly-throated leaftosser is the only species that tends to increase with dryer conditions.
A recent study found that fragmented forest edges in New England absorb more carbon than expected due to increased growth rates, but also experience more heat stress. This mixed outcome suggests that while forests may be valuable carbon sinks, they are also sensitive to climate change.
The University of Notre Dame's Global Adaptation Initiative is assessing the climate vulnerability and readiness of over 250 US cities with a population over 100,000. The Urban Adaptation Assessment integrates social equity analysis to investigate how vulnerable groups are disproportionately harmed by climate hazards.
A new study at George Washington University found that local weather experiences drive belief or non-belief in climate change among Americans. Record high temperatures are associated with increased acceptance of global warming, while record low temperatures contribute to skepticism.
A recent study suggests that climate engineering cannot be used as a substitute for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, due to significant uncertainties associated with the technique. Climate engineering would allow very little additional emissions during the coming decades.
Long-term datasets show mosquito populations increased ten-fold in NY, NJ, and California over the past five decades. Urbanization and residual DDT concentrations drove these changes, contrary to initial expectations linked to climate change.
A new study predicts that climate change will release 55 trillion kilograms of carbon from the soil by mid-century, exacerbating global warming. The impact on the soil's storage capacity is expected to be equivalent to adding another industrialized country like the US to the planet.
Researchers found that nine out of 11 mountain bird species shifted their lower boundaries downslope, defying expectations. The study highlights the need for caution when applying conventional expectations to species' responses to climate change.
Researchers found complex and active life under the ice in over 100 lakes, with productivity exceeding summer levels in some cases. This discovery complicates understanding of freshwater systems as climate change warms lakes worldwide.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh used computer models to predict the effect of climate change on North Atlantic coral populations. They found that a shift in winter weather conditions could threaten the long-term survival of these populations, which are maintained by tiny coral larvae.
The study analyzes albedo effects on climate change induced by converting land to produce biofuels, finding corn ethanol has a net cooling effect while miscanthus and switchgrass exhibit net warming effects. The research provides a more accurate picture of climate effects of biofuel feedstock production.
A study led by the University of Washington found that large forest die-offs can alter global climate patterns and affect vegetation on the other side of the world. Removing trees in western North America causes cooling in Siberia, while forests in South America benefit from increased precipitation.
A recent study found that shallow coral reefs in Singapore can recover rapidly from bleaching events, despite high levels of sedimentation. The team's research suggests that diverse shallow coral communities can persist in adverse conditions, highlighting the resilience of corals to environmental stresses.
A Harvard University study predicts that climate change will lead to more frequent political party turnovers and increased focus on short-term policies, potentially hindering long-run climate mitigation strategies.
A new study found that climate change may be amplifying the effects of wavy jet stream patterns, contributing to severe cold winters. The research improves long-term forecasting of winter weather in populous regions, benefiting communities and economies.
A five-year study in Harvard and Duke forests found that adding warmth predicted in climate-change models destabilized forest ant communities. The loss of stability makes communities less resilient and slower to rebound when disturbed, with relative abundance of thermophilic species growing while heat-intolerant species declining.
Indirect effects of rising CO2 levels, such as changes in soil moisture and plant structure, have a bigger impact on ecosystems than previously thought. These effects can explain up to 28% of total plant productivity response and are almost equal to the size of direct effects on evapotranspiration.
A long-term experiment found that plant mixtures with high diversity alleviated flooding effects on crops, while monocultures were more vulnerable. Soil properties improved in diverse mixtures, allowing for faster water drainage and higher oxygen levels.
A national survey found that awareness of Laudato Si' did not increase concern over climate change, but rather polarized views among Catholics and non-Catholics. Liberals who knew about the encyclical were more concerned about climate change than those who didn't.
Yale researchers argue that most climate change ecology research focuses on single variables and trophic levels, leading to incomplete and inaccurate predictions. A more complex, integrative approach is needed to explore interactions between food web components and accurately predict ecosystem responses to climate change.
The 'robomussels' have tracked internal body temperature, enabling scientists to pinpoint areas of unusual warming and develop strategies to prevent extinction of certain species. The findings can reveal emerging hotspots, allowing policymakers and scientists to intervene before it's too late.
Microbiologist Kristen DeAngelis receives $2.5 million grant from US Department of Energy to study soil microbes' impact on carbon cycle. The research aims to improve understanding of how climate change affects soil carbon storage and develop new methods for modeling microbial contributions to global carbon cycling.
Climate change and sea-level rise will increase the frequency of floods like Sandy's in NYC, with projected increases of up to 17 times more frequently. The study predicts that floods as intense as Sandy's will occur at least three times more frequently by 2100.
A new study by researchers at the University of Idaho and Columbia University finds that human-caused climate change has nearly doubled the amount of land burned in western US forest fires over the past three decades. The study estimates that human-caused climate change caused an additional 16,000 square miles of western forest lands t...
International ATS physicians report that climate change affects patients in various ways, including increased chronic disease severity and heat-related effects. The survey also highlights the impact of climate change on air pollution, which has well-established links to respiratory health.
Researchers estimate that dams and reservoirs release 1.3% of total human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, a quantity that should be included in global inventories. The authors suggest that careful dam siting and management can help balance the positive ecosystem services of reservoirs against greenhouse gas emission costs.
A University of Washington study links Atlantic Ocean slowdown to changes in the Southern Hemisphere, which affects eastern North America and Western Europe. The shift is not driven by Arctic sea ice melting but rather by winds in the Southern Ocean.
Americans have divided views on climate change causes, cures, and scientist trust; liberal Democrats generally support science role in policy. Moderate views exist on individual actions to reduce climate change.
Researchers found that international trade shifts climate impact from consuming to producing regions in East Asia. Aerosols emitted through industrial production or fossil-fuel burning contribute to climate change, with stronger forcing in producing than consuming countries.
A study published in Nature Climate Change found that Amazon forests with greater plant diversity can better adapt to climate change, enabling substantial regrowth in vast areas after a few hundred years. However, high biodiversity is crucial for long-term survival and resilience, particularly under moderate climate change scenarios.
A recent study has disentangled the impact of the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption on global mean sea level trends. The research reveals that the eruption effectively distorted calculations of sea level rise in subsequent decades, masking the acceleration caused by climate change.
A new study finds that trade liberalization could buffer economic losses in agriculture due to climate change, with potential savings of up to 2.5 trillion US Dollars. The research highlights the importance of trade as a key measure to reduce climate change impacts on the agricultural sector.
A Yale-led study found that haze in China significantly drives the urban heat island effect, unlike in the US where vegetation plays a key role. The research highlights the paradoxical impact of smaller aerosol particles, which cool surfaces but larger ones radiate heat.
A new Yale-led study estimates that by mid-century, over 82 million people will experience 'smoke waves,' or consecutive days with high air pollution related to fires. The regions likely to receive the highest exposure include northern California, western Oregon, and the Great Plains.
Several southeastern US ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change, including Caribbean coastal mangrove, Edwards Plateau limestone shrubland, and southern Appalachian balds. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and rising sea levels pose significant threats to these ecosystems.
A new Concordia study reveals that climate change may be one of the biggest emerging threats to primates, with 419 species expected to experience 10% more warming than the global average. The researchers identified hotspots of primate vulnerability in Central America, the Amazon, and Southeast Asia.
A new study reveals that greenhouse gases are already accelerating sea level rise, but the impact was initially masked by the massive 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption. The study finds that removing the eruption's cooling effect from satellite records shows a clear acceleration in sea level rise over time.
A new study reveals a strong link between environmental conditions and search and rescue incidents in Nunavut, Canada. The risk of accidents peaks around -3 C temperatures, posing significant challenges to Inuit hunting activities and cultural identity.
A study found that carbon-finance-approved cookstoves had only moderately lower indoor concentrations of pollutants compared to traditional stoves. The improvements were less than anticipated, with some families even continuing to use traditional stoves due to their preference for certain dishes.
A new study has discovered a diverse range of plant enzymes, including Rubisco, that have superior characteristics for improving crop photosynthetic efficiency. The research found that some plant species produce more effective Rubiscos than major crops like wheat and soybean, which could help address global food security.
A new study combining future climate projections and tree-ring records reveals that North American forests will likely struggle to offset climate change. Forests, which currently absorb 25-30% of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions, are expected to grow slower in the face of warmer temperatures and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
A 24-year study of Fowler's Toads has created a model to predict the impact of climate change on animal behavior. The model uses weather records to forecast when toads will emerge from hibernation, revealing that warming temperatures are causing this shift to occur earlier.
A new study by Colorado State University researchers found that ptarmigan in Colorado are not strongly affected by recent climate warming trends. However, annual reproduction declined at one site due to warmer spring temperatures leading to earlier breeding.
An international team of researchers is using big-data approach to plan effective conservation by modeling climate-change response of over 100,000 species. The project aims to identify regions and ecosystems that preserve biodiversity and critical ecosystems, reducing extinctions due to climate change.
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has announced $8.4 million in funding to study and develop new approaches for the US agriculture sector to adapt to climate change. The funding will support research on reducing energy, nitrogen, and water use, as well as training community-based volunteers to become 'climate masters,'
Researchers found large-scale patterns of cloud change between the 1980s and 2000s, including poleward retreat of mid-latitude storm tracks and expansion of subtropical dry zones, consistent with climate model predictions.
A study published by the University of Oxford found that man-made climate change was responsible for hundreds of deaths in two European cities during a 2003 heatwave. The research used computer simulations and health impact assessments to estimate the number of premature deaths attributed to climate change.
A study analyzing climate and mortality data reveals that 64-506 deaths in London and Paris can be attributed to anthropogenic climate change, increasing the risk of heat-related mortality by 20% and 70%, respectively. The analysis will help agencies create more accurate emergency plans for extreme weather events.